BOYER'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEADS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TO 81-72 VICTORY OVER EASTERN WASHINGTON

2/8/2008

CHENEY, Wash. - Junior Atty Boyer posted her second straight double-double, with 20 points and 12 rebounds, as Sacramento State defeated Eastern Washington, 81-72, on Thursday, February 7 at Reese Court.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 6-15 overall, 4-5 in Big Sky Conference play, while the Eagles fall to 3-19, 0-9 in the Big Sky. Sacramento State extends its overall winning streak and road winning streak to two games.

The first half of play saw the Hornets start strong, scoring 18 of the games first 27 points, taking a 18-9 lead with 10:51 remaining. Eastern Washington battled back, cutting into the lead to three points at the 3:02 mark, two points at the 2:05 mark, and finally tying the game at 36-36 with 57 seconds remaining in the half. The Hornets went into the break with the lead, as freshman Tika Koshiyama-Diaz (San Jose, Calif.) banked in a jump shot with 40 seconds remaining.

Junior Atty Boyer (Sacramento, Calif.) led the Hornets in the first half with eight points, while freshman Emily Christensen (El Dorado Hills, Calif.), who was making her first career start, tallied seven points in the stanza. Tatjana Sparavalo led the Eagles with nine points off the bench, while Julie Piper added eight points in the first half. The Eagles outshot the Hornets (48.1 percent to 40.0 percent) in the half, but Sacramento State took advantage of a 9-of-10 performance from the foul line in the half.

The second half again saw the Eagles hang close to the Hornets, as Sacramento State had no larger than a five point lead in the half, before Eastern Washington took the lead on a three-point play by Sparavalo with 10:55 remaining at 56-55. The Hornets would have the momentum from that point forward, as on the ensuing posession, freshman Sami Field-Polisso (Mountain View, Calif.), a lefty, banked in a three-pointer from 25 feet out with her right hand with one on the shot clock, to give Sacramento State a lead it would never relinquish.

Eastern Washington pulled back to within two with 2:56 to go, 69-67, but could not get any closer, as the Hornets were 10-of-10 from the foul line from that point forward. The two teams, who combined for 21 fouls in the first half, tallied an additional 29 in the second half. In turn, the squads combined to attempt 41 second half free throws. The Hornets took advantage, shooting 30-of-33 from the line (90.9 percent) for the game, while the Eagles were 22-of-28 (78.6 percent).

Boyer led all scorers with 20 points and 12 rebounds, as she was 8-of-15 from the field, and 4-of-4 from the foul line, while adding three assists in 37 minutes. Sophomore Erika Edwards (Redmond, Wash.), in her first game back after suffering a broken nose against Weber State, added 14 points off the bench. Sophomore Charday Hunt (Oregon City, Ore.), Field-Polisso and Christensen each added nine points, with Field Polisso playing 38 minutes at the point guard position without committing a turnover.

Eastern Washington had four players reach double-figures, with Sparavalo leading the way with 16 points off the bench. Sydney Benson added 15 points, while Amy Bratvold (13) and Piper (12) rounded out the double-digit scorers.

Sacramento State turned the ball over just eight times, while forcing 16 Eastern Washington turnovers, which included 11 Hornet steals. Christensen led the way with three thefts, while Edwards and Field-Polisso added two apiece.

The Hornets are back in action as they take on Portland State on Saturday, February 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.